Vacuum system



Oct. 7, 1930.

w. P. WHlTTlNGTO N VACUUM SYSTEM Filed Dec 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. Wlllzam]? Wnttington, BY

ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1930. w. P. WHITTINGTON -VACUUM SYSTEI Filed Dec 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sho'ot 2 VIII INVEIV TOR. M'lliamBW/zittmgton,

ATTORNEYS Patented Qc t. 7,1930

-" ,,-Umm AT WIfLTfiAMfI WHITTINGTOKQQFINDIANAPOLIS, INnIANAihssIG oR r 7 i NGIN-EERING COMPANY, ACORPORATIONOF*ILLINOISY VACUUM sys'rEM Application filed' Decembler 27,1926: seuai noijlszdzi,

' invention relates to r improvements in vacuum 'produclng apparatus and ispart cularly applicableYto that type of apparatus 7 a known asa wet vacuum pumpingapparatus i used in connection with vapor and steam heat ing apparatus andin which the air and water are exhausted from the return line of the heating system to produce circulation of the heating fluid through the system.

1e It isuone of the objects of invention to provide a fvacuum producing apparatus which will eflicien'tlyand automatically opcrate in accordance with the'demands placed thereon without undue attention or service.

Forthe purpose of disclosing my invencan Ihave illu strated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawingsin fwhich j v j j j Fig. isa perspectiveview of an apparatus embodying myinvention; I I Fig.2 is an end elevation partlyjin'section ofthe same; i i V 7 Fig; i is a longitudinal {sectional view" of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1,;

Figjfl is a detail section of the valve controlling mechanism; i L i Fig. 5Iis a detail sectionof thevalve;

Fig. 6 is a detail section of the ejector; f

Fig. 7 is a detailview of thebottom part of the barometric tube, and j Fig. 8 is a detail view of a temperature controlled valve. l j V 7 i In the embodiment'of the inventionillustratedI provide a tank'or container which may be cylindrical in form and 'closedj'at each end and" is divide'd intotw0 chambers that may I be frespectiv'ely termed the vacuum chamber 2 andthe liquidchamberf3. The

vacuum chamber 2 is formed by a dividing wall 4 extending the full length of the/tank and this wallat. its lower end starts at a point to oneside of the; verticalcenter of the tank and having aslightly arcuate for-' othersystem or apparatus in which is. de-

The returnline 6 of theheating system, or;

sired to maintain a vacuum, is conne'cted with the'chamber 2 at the point? near the take of a centrifugal pump 9, the delivery of which is connected a pipe 10 with there turn side ofthe boiler of aflheatingflsystem or ILL wjIs-E top the-momma the. bottom or theliquidwell 5 connected by 'the "conduit 8 with the inmay dischargetoany suitableapparatus. a otherwords, the pipedprovides a combined air andliquid intake for the chamber 2 while ch amber;

loo the pipe outlet i rthis i partial vacuum is maintained in j the chamber 2by'. awater-jet which comprisesa nozzle '11 in series with which is a second nozzle 12; this second nozzlehaving a chamber brintake 13 surrounding the nozzle 11 and Q i fi d o g the inlet-J port 14 by pipe 15 with the pp Part Qfi-thevacuum chamber 2. The jet nozzle dischargesflinto an enlarged pipe 16the lower end? of which passes into, through the-j'top of the tank .1, Y

the liquid chamber 3 andisbent upwardly upon itself to dischargeupwardly as at nozzle 17 and to' provide a ba'rometric sealin the pipe/16 thus forminga barometric leg into a "which" the jet nozzle F11 discharges.

Liquid is] fed to the jetnozzle from the liquid tank 3 means offa centrifugal pump1 8 which iscOnnected on its intake side by; the

conduit 19 with the liquid tank 3 and on its delivery side bythe' conduit 20 with the 11oz zle 11, at the upper endofthe pipe 116, the

construction being such that the liquid the tank 3 is constantly circulated through T-he conduitQO is provided with abalanced valve 21'the opening and closing of which. is controlled by the extent of the partial vacuum produced in the chamber 2 and to this end the valve stem 22 of'the valve} 21 is connected by a l'e'ver 23with a coiled spring completely open position; The valve stem 22 is also connected toa diaphragm 25 arranged in a suitable casing 26 which dim t phragm is subject to the influence ofthepartial' v'acuumuproduced in the chamber-12, or in the pipe 15,through the pipe coupling 27 i so that, as a parti'al vacuum in'the chamber 24exerting a-pressure"to" move the valve tos 2 increases, the diaphragm 25 will be acted on to move the valve 21 towards closed position and against the tension of the spring 24.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is extremely simple. Due to the action-of the pump .18 a circulationof water will he set up from the liquid chamber 3 through the pipe 20 through the jet nozzles 11 and 12 and the conduit 16 back into the liquidchaniber. The discharge 'of the Water through the nozzle 11 will create a partial vacuum at the port 1th thereby drawing the air through the pipe 15 from the vacuum'tank 2 and this air and water will .be discharged through the nozzle 12 into the pipe 16. Due to {the upward bend .of the pipe '16 :a column of Water or a watergpiston wil'lbe established in this pipe and the downward movementof this water piston will add to theefliciency of the nozzle 11 and greatly increase the vacuum ;produced at the port .14 by the creation ofasecondary vacuum Kin the barometric leg thereby increasing the eflicienoy of the apparatus. It is obvious that the length of the barometric leg may be 'variedto .meet varying conditions. The air and-water discharged from the barometric leg 16 is dis charged above the water lineof ;the water tank 8 and the air thus discharged escapes through the air vent opening 28 iinithe tank. As the air discharges above the water line there is no danger of theairibeingdischarged downwardly into .the water tanlnand thereby beingdra-wnout .with .the water in the tank through thepipe )1'9ito thereby affect the operation ofxthe centrifugal pump '18. Due to the "vacuum producediinithe tank 2 the mixed airand water WillEbQ-(lfELWIl from theqreturn side of the heating system, through the pipe 6 and into :the vvacuumichamber 2, the'water settling in .the bottom -of this chamber and theair passing out of the chamber through the pipe .15. The water is withdrawnfrom the .Well.5:by the ;pump 9 and-delivered back .to the boiler. It will be ,noted that due 'to the arrangement of .the :wall i one wall of the vacuum .chamber ,is in intimate contact with :the water in the watericham'ber 3. The type .of pump unost advantageous for withdrawing :the avater from 'the chamber .2 is .a centrifugal type pump and with this type of pump when the Wilt-61 handled thereby reaches. a rather'higlntemperature the'efiiciency =of the :pump cosiderahly "lowered and .in some instances the :pump will not operate at all. Under .these circum-stances the water in the vacuum chamber2 will gradually'back up .in the chamber2 and as it backs up it, \will be :noted it comes in contact-with the wall i and as the water *in .the chamberB is of considerably lower temperaturethe heat of this water in the vacuum chamber 2 'is absorbsdzbyithe water izrthechamber 3 so that 'the'temperature of-the water in the chamber:2 is sufficiently lowered :to ?the point where the pump 9 will eiticiently handle the same again.

The temperature of the water in the tank 3 tends to rise due to friction etc. and in order to overcome this tendency I provide the column 16 with radiating fins 29 throughout its length which tend to rapidly dissipate the heat and, furthermore, the tank or Chamber 3 is connected by a supply pipe 30 with a cold water supply and through a thermostatically controlled valve 31,"the thermostatic element 82 of which is immersed in the water of the tank 8. By this arrangement in event the temperature of the Water in the tank 3 rises above a predetermined point, the valve 31 will be opened admitting cold water to the chamber 3, thereby effectually reducing the temperature of the Water in this tank. llhe opening 28 provides an overflow opening for the tank .so that even though cold water is admitted thereto the water level will not rise above this point.

In order that pressure in the liquid tank 3tmay not build up and therefore in order to maintain not more than atmospheric };-ress1u e=in said tank above the water level. I provide suitable air escape openings or vents 33:31] the top of the tank so thatsuch air whichpasses out through the pipe 16 Will-escape from the top of the chamber '3 tothe atmosphere.

I prefer that .the pump 9 shall be of the centrifugal type and .as is well known in this type of pump it is necessary, in order that the same mayoperate, that it be primed or always supplied with liquid. To this end this pump is connected by the conduit (34, which has less capacity than the conduit with the vacuum tank -2 so that a certain portion of the liquid withdrawn from the tank will again .be delivered to the vacuum tank 2 through this bypass condu't This insuresatileast the presence, under all conditions of .a gpriming charge in the well so that .the gpump 9 .will always be in condition to operate.

'lit-i-s ohviousthat-the operation of the'device is entirely automatic. Where a large quantity of air and Water is drawn {through the pipe 6, the vacuum in the tank 2 is materiall-y reduced permitting the spring 24 to more widelyiopen-the valve 21. increasing the amount of water delivered tothe nezzles and thereby increasingthe action of the anozzles to draw the air throua'h the pip 15. Likewise. :where =the demand is lowered by a comparatively small amount of air or water passing-through the pipe 6,.thc vacuum in the chamber '2 will tend to increase. op erating to move the valve 21 towards clos position and thus decreasing-the supply I water to the spray jets and decreasing :load on the ipump. The :system is thus en tirely automatic in :its operation and will maintain a=constaut vacuum ion :the pipe "3 witlra very small degree of variation.

it zle and means subject to the influence of the vacuum-force. produced bysaid ejector for into a barometric legfdischarging ag claim'as my invention:

1; An injectorhaving a liquid motive 11oz a zleandinle't port said nozzle; discha not exceeding atmospheric pressure. 2. An 111]6Ci301 having a liquid motive noz- Zle fllidvllilet port, said nozzledischarging;

i above a falling liquid piston in turn discharging against atmospheric pressure.

3. Ane ector having aliquid motlve noze zle a d inlet port, said nozzle discharging into columnar tube having formed therein v a barometric seal at its lower end discharging againstnot exceeding atmospheric pressure. r

4:. An ejector having a liquidmotive-nozzle and inlet port, said nozzle discharging into columnar tube dischargin aga nst not exceedin atmos heric ressure and having:

t) i i x.. h

a liquid seal near its lower end.

5. An e ector having a liquid motive nozzle and 1nletport,fsa1d nozzle d scharging intoa barometric leg discharging against not exceeding atmospheric pressure, means con trolling the liquid supply to said motive nozcontrolling the operation of'said first 1nenduced by said ejector for controlling the op eration of saidfirst nientionedmeans;

mentioned means.

tioned means.

6. An ejector having a liquid motive noz- Zle and inlet port, said nozzle discharging *above a falling liquid column having a discharge against not exceeding atmospheric pressure, means for controlling the liquid supply to said motive nozzle and means sub-- jectto the influence ofthe vacuum forcepro 7. ejector having aliquid motive nozt zle andlinlet port, said nozzle discharging into a columnar tube having abarometric seal at its lower end and discharging against not exceeding atmospheric pressure, means controlling the liquid supply to said motive nozzle and means subject to the influence oi the vacuum force produced by said ejector operatlon of SEllCl first for controlling the "8, An ejector having a liquid motive nozzleand 1nlet-port,sa1d nozzle discharginginto a columnar tube discharging against not exceeding; atmospheric pressure and having a liquid seal near its lower end, means controlline; the liquid supply to said motive nozzle and means subject to the influence ofthe vacuum "force produced by said ejector for. Controlling,- the operation of said valve.

9. An ejector having a liquid motive nozzle and inlet port, said nozzle discharging. into a barometric leg discharging agalnsi.

not exceeding atmospheric pressure and said inlet port being connected with a vacuum chamber, means controlling the liquid sup-- ply to said motive nozzle and means subject to theanfluence of the vacuum produced in means subject to the influence .ofthe vacuum 'ceedin'eatmospheric pressure. 1

'ing atmospheric pressure into said tank} and and having aliquid seal at the 'lower end and ing into abarometriccondensing tube dis: charging against not exceed ngatmospheric an ejector having an otive nozzle and inlet said firstmentioned'means;1 a y j 10. An e ector having a l quid motivenow "said chamber for controlling thefaction of zles and inlet' port, said nozzle discharging V nto a columnar tube hav ng liiquld seal t near its lower end and .dischargingvagainst not exceeding atmospheric pressure, the inlet port of the ejectorbclngconnected withja vacuum chamber, means controlling the liquid supply to said motive nozzle and action of said first mentionedtmeans 11. The combination with a iliquidtank, of an ejector havingia liquidmotive nozzle and inlet port, said nozzle dischargingtinto a columnar tube terminating 'infsai'd liquid tank and discharging away from and above the liquid level thereof and \gainst not exproduced in said chamberfor controlling thei 12. The comb'nation with a liquidtanlr, of a an ejector having a liquid motive nozzle and inlet port, said nozzle discharging into. a col umnar tube discharging against not exceed- 190 w having a liquid: seal at its lower end? 13. The combination with awliquid tank, a of an ejector having a'liquidunetive nozzles and inlet port, a l pump receiving? the liquid from said. liquid tank-and delivering :the saline to said nozzlefsaid Jnozzle discharging intd-a columnar tube delivering into; said tank against not exceeding atmospheric pressure heat radiating line on saidtube. 1

.1l4C.-,The combinationwitha liquid tanlnof an ejector, a pump receiving the liquidfrom v said liqindtank and delivering the same to said ejector," said *ej ect or including a motive nozzle andanj inletport', said nozzle discharginto a barometric leg the height ofthe dis charge end of whichdoesfnot substantially exceed sealing height.

j v i 1 Anejector having a liquidmotive nozzle andlinlet port, said nozzledischarging into abarometricleg the height of the dis charge endo'f whiclrdoes not substantially exceed sealing height, means controlling the liquid supply to said motive nozzle and means subject to theinfluence of the vacuum force produced by said ejector for controlling the operation of said filSiQi II IBHiJiOIlGd means 18. An air pump-comprising a vertical tube discharging at its bottomagainst not exceeding atmospheric pressure andhaving an inlet at its upper end, and a motive liquid delivery nozzle discharging into the upper end of sai tube at high velocity, the liquid in said tube comprising the motive forceof the pump-said tube having a liquid sealat its 'lower end.

19. Anairpump comprising a vertical tube discharging at its lower end against not exceeding atmospheric pressure and having an inlet port at its upper end, and a nozzle discharging into said tube above a falling liquid piston :in :turn discharging against atmospheric pressure, said tube having a liquid seal at its lower end. '20. An air pump comprising a vertical coluninar tube having formed therein. at its lower end a barometric seal discharging against not exceeding atmospheric pressure and'having an inlet port at its upper end,.and a motive liquid delivery nozzle discharging into the upper end of said tube at high velocity, the liquid in said tube comprising the motive force of said pump.

21. The combination with an air pump comprising a vertical tube discharging at its bottom against not exceeding atmospheric pressure and having an inlet at its upper end, a motive liquid delivery nozzle discharging into the upper end of said tube at high velocity, the liquid in said tube comprising the motive force of the pump, of means cont-rolling the liquid supply to said motive nozzle and means subject to the influence of the vacuum force produced by said pump for controlling the operation of said first mentioned means. v

22. The combination with an air pump comprising a vertical tube having formed therein at its lower end a barometric seal discharging against not exceeding atmospheric pressure and having at its upper end an inlet port, and a motive liquid delivery nozzle discharging into the upper end of said tube at high velocity, the liquid in said tube comprising the motive force, of means for controlling the liquid supply to said nozzle and means subject to the influence ofthe vacuum force produced by said pump for controlling the operation of said first mentioned means.

23. The combination with an air pump comprising a vertical tube discharging at its bottom against not exceeding atmospheric pressure and having an inlet at its upper end, a motive liquid delivery nozzle discharging into the upper end of said tube at high velocity, the liquid in said tube comprising the motive force of the pump, of a vacuum chamber connected with said inlet port, means c0ntrolling the liquid supply to said nozzle and means subject to the influence of the vacuum produced in said chamber for controlling the action of said first mentioned means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 22nd day of December, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six.

WILLIAM P. WH-ITTINGTON.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,777,816. Granted October 7, 1930, to

WILLIAM P. WHITTINGTON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 2 and 6, claims 1 and '2, respectively, for the word "injector" read ejector; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of December, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

